Ashton Winding Road
(2.51)
A mellow mixture designed to bridge the gap between aromatic and English style blends. Comprised of golden and dark brown Virginia with a sprinkling of black cavendish, this excellent blend bears a natural fragrance accompanied by subtle notes of caramel and apricot.
Details
| Brand | Ashton |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Kohlhase & Kopp |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Apricot, Caramel |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.51 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 15, 2009 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I hadn't tried an Ashton blend before but liked the description of this one, being somewhere between an English and an Aromatic. Let's be clear though, this has very little in common with an English mixture, it's simply an aromatic with more tobacco taste then most aros.
Upon opening the tin i was met with a very distinct scent of apricot, much like the description on the tin says. I can't really say it was that inviting though, as it was a rather overpowering scent which blocked any other nuances and that I feared would perhaps also dominate the taste.
Not to worry, after drying the tobacco a little (it was very damp straight out if the tin, which probably contributed to the smell) it lightened up easily enough and I set to work on it. It turned out to be a very mellow and pleasent smoke, very much dominated by the sweetness of the Virginias, with just a hint of a citrus taste to it as well, but not in any way overpowering or artificial as I initially feared. The taste was also consistent throughout the bowl.
I had no problem keeping it lit all the way through and it in no way burnt hot or gave me any tongue-bite as some reviewers have experienced.
I've since smoked about half the tin and my initial thoughts and feelings have not changed: A solid choice for aromatic fans who like to taste the tobacco and not just the casing.
Edit: I'm now well into my second tin and I've decided to upgrade to 4 stars. This one is obviously not for everyone, but I enjoy it more and more with each bowl. The focus is more on the VA's then the BC which is perhaps slightly unusual for an aromatic and that might be what's throwing people off. For me that's turning out to be a good thing though, probably as I've been trying and very much enjoying some pure VA blends lately.
Upon opening the tin i was met with a very distinct scent of apricot, much like the description on the tin says. I can't really say it was that inviting though, as it was a rather overpowering scent which blocked any other nuances and that I feared would perhaps also dominate the taste.
Not to worry, after drying the tobacco a little (it was very damp straight out if the tin, which probably contributed to the smell) it lightened up easily enough and I set to work on it. It turned out to be a very mellow and pleasent smoke, very much dominated by the sweetness of the Virginias, with just a hint of a citrus taste to it as well, but not in any way overpowering or artificial as I initially feared. The taste was also consistent throughout the bowl.
I had no problem keeping it lit all the way through and it in no way burnt hot or gave me any tongue-bite as some reviewers have experienced.
I've since smoked about half the tin and my initial thoughts and feelings have not changed: A solid choice for aromatic fans who like to taste the tobacco and not just the casing.
Edit: I'm now well into my second tin and I've decided to upgrade to 4 stars. This one is obviously not for everyone, but I enjoy it more and more with each bowl. The focus is more on the VA's then the BC which is perhaps slightly unusual for an aromatic and that might be what's throwing people off. For me that's turning out to be a good thing though, probably as I've been trying and very much enjoying some pure VA blends lately.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2014 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
Ashton - Winding Road.
This has an excellent aroma, I get a solid Virginia with a delicate sweet/fruity topping. The content of this blend appears to be mostly Virginia, it's about 15% Cav' to 85% Virginia. I can't find anything to moan about with the hydration level, it's not dry, not damp but right on the money!
I get this one lit with no difficulty whatsoever, I'm using my jet flame lighter today but it would be more than reasonable to use just an old school match; a jet is maybe "to much power" for Winding Road! The taste is very reminiscent of the un-lit aroma, in the fact that this too is delicate! The aromatics seem to be quite light, a slight zingy note from the apricot along with a creamy sweetness from the caramel, but I do personally find the caramel to be the more discernible of the two. The burn's good quality and the smoke's free from bite.
Nicotine: mild to medium. Room-note: lovely.
No problem awarding this four:
Highly recommended.
This has an excellent aroma, I get a solid Virginia with a delicate sweet/fruity topping. The content of this blend appears to be mostly Virginia, it's about 15% Cav' to 85% Virginia. I can't find anything to moan about with the hydration level, it's not dry, not damp but right on the money!
I get this one lit with no difficulty whatsoever, I'm using my jet flame lighter today but it would be more than reasonable to use just an old school match; a jet is maybe "to much power" for Winding Road! The taste is very reminiscent of the un-lit aroma, in the fact that this too is delicate! The aromatics seem to be quite light, a slight zingy note from the apricot along with a creamy sweetness from the caramel, but I do personally find the caramel to be the more discernible of the two. The burn's good quality and the smoke's free from bite.
Nicotine: mild to medium. Room-note: lovely.
No problem awarding this four:
Highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
Altinok Lee Van Cleef
PurchasedFrom:
G.Q Tobaccos
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2020 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
First off I'd like to say I don't like tons of aromatics as I prefer that taste of the tobacco itself. This, however is one of my favorites. Right as you open the tin it smells of fruit and to my inexperienced palate somehow smells like an oatmeal cookie. But that fruit note does not dominate the blend, I can definitely smell the Virginia's and all of the components.
The cut on this one is a ribbon which is perfect for packing, and I had no issue with the mechanics of lighting it and keeping it lit.
Now, to the meat of the matter. In my experience whenever I smoke an aro I either have a hard time tasting the topping or I find it a little overpowering with a chemically taste. Every now and then I find a golden medium and this is one of those. You aren't run down by the citrus and apricot flavours, and the underlying tobaccos shine through. They add a very pleasant uplift to the experience, smoothing out the rough edges in the blend. In a churchwarden I find the fruit flavors to be more pronounced, but also more delicate and as a result this has become for me one of my Nightcap tobaccos. It's perfect after a meal or otherwise before bed. All in all, if you are looking for an aro that lets the tobacco shine through this is my recommendation, if you are looking for something with a bold fruit sort of note, this won't be for you.
The cut on this one is a ribbon which is perfect for packing, and I had no issue with the mechanics of lighting it and keeping it lit.
Now, to the meat of the matter. In my experience whenever I smoke an aro I either have a hard time tasting the topping or I find it a little overpowering with a chemically taste. Every now and then I find a golden medium and this is one of those. You aren't run down by the citrus and apricot flavours, and the underlying tobaccos shine through. They add a very pleasant uplift to the experience, smoothing out the rough edges in the blend. In a churchwarden I find the fruit flavors to be more pronounced, but also more delicate and as a result this has become for me one of my Nightcap tobaccos. It's perfect after a meal or otherwise before bed. All in all, if you are looking for an aro that lets the tobacco shine through this is my recommendation, if you are looking for something with a bold fruit sort of note, this won't be for you.
Pipe Used:
Mr Brog Churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
5 Months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 2008 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
The sweet, fruity scent in the tin carries over when smoked. I find nothing to complain about, save the fact that I can't buy it in bulk. An excellent "social tobacco."
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 14, 2007 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Very Pleasant |
Winding Road is a simply wonderful blend of VA tobaccos, topped with a nice caramel & apricot flavor. This blend packs & lights quite easily, and burns down to a fine white ash.
The room note on this is excellent and there is absolutely no tongue bite.
For a change of pace smoke, I highly recommend this to any lover of VA tobaccos.
The room note on this is excellent and there is absolutely no tongue bite.
For a change of pace smoke, I highly recommend this to any lover of VA tobaccos.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 16, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
I actually really enjoyed this blend, it was a nice fruity smell without overpowering like most aromatics would
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 06, 2015 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
A great Cavendish/Virgina blend giving beautiful light notes of maple syrup & fruity apricot but without being overpowering or sticky. One of my favourite aromatics well deserving of 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
Comoys Grand Slam
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2020 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
Now in my opinion, this is the best Asthon aromatic by a long shot. I have first smoked this blend in 2016, and picked it up again recently, not being able to find good enough words to praise it. Who read my other reviews already know I am not an aromatic smoker, but this is something else. It is a simple but balanced blend, with a taste midway in between a sweet apricot and a caramel, as in burnt sugar not toffee. The apricot is truly fruity, without the flaw of most soapy/candy like aromatic, while the caramel tones it down adding a bit of smokiness and reducing the over sweetness of a too ripe of a fruit, but without putting a raisin note to it. Not much to be said beyond that, simple, toned down, balanced. It smokes a tad wet, and if you rush it, it will punish you back.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 25, 2024 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Ashton Winding Road is a very good tobacco. Too bad you have to dry it a little before smoking it. its taste is very pleasant. For me it's a natural flavored tobacco. Because unlike many aromatic tobaccos, this one has the taste of very good quality tobacco which is not hidden by the aromatization. On the contrary, it enhances the tobacco by providing it with something special.
PurchasedFrom:
Schwarz cigar AG (Switzerland)
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 02, 2023 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
A refreshing aromatic blend with just the right sweetness and stone fruit flavors that compliment the natural flavors of Virginias. A pleasant suprise after reading some reviews. Tin note is a touch of apricot with a wonderful Virginia note. Moisture level is perfect, no need to dry before packing. I would not call it a blend between Aromatic to English, however, it is not so heavily topped like some aromtics it is lightly topped allowing tobacco flavors through. No bite notice. The ribbon cut is spot on and perfect. Highly recommend to beginners as it is a friendly tobacco to use and pack.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked:
Fresh from Tin
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